10 August 2022, Cagayan de Oro City – The local government unit (LGU) of Talakag, Bukidnon is one of the Local Nutrition Early Warning System for Food and Nutrition Security (LNEWS-FNS) Areas in Northern Mindanao. Regular monitoring is being conducted twice a year to assess the program implementation.
The LNEWS Core Group members, Household Data Collectors, and Municipal Nutrition Action Officer (MNAO) Rosa Ma. Theresa L. Nanolan together with Development Management Officer (DMO) II Arlie Joy O. Damiles convened last 5 August 2022 at the Municipal Audio-Visual Room, Talakag, Bukidnon to discuss the 2022 1st semester survey results.
MNAO Nanolan reported the 2022 first and second quarter monitoring results. She shared that the underweight and wasting among 0-59 months old children have no or minimal impact. While stunting in both first and second quarters is in warning alert status at 14.7% which is a medium public health significance based on World Health Organization (WHO) cut-off.
Barangay San Antonio recorded the highest number of stunting out of the five (5) sentinel barangays. Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS) Madia Bustillo of Barangay San Antonio said that one of the possible reasons for high stunting prevalence is teenage pregnancy. To address the said concern, the group recommended intensifying the implementation of the Adolescent Health and Development program.
In addition, MNAO Nanolan reported that both quarters showed a price alert status, particularly on rice, fish, pork, chicken, cooking oil, and brown sugar. To ensure that households have access to affordable food commodities, particularly fruits and vegetables, the LGU intends to fast-track the establishment of the food terminal.
To address malnutrition in the municipality, the LGU will implement a Dietary Supplementation Program for pregnant and lactating women, 6-23 months old children, and identified malnourished 24-59 months old children on September to December 2022 for 120 days.
MNAO Nanolan hopes that with the collaboration of the LNEWS Core Group led by Municipal Mayor Vergito O. Factura, the program implementation will be strengthened. She planned to set an appointment with Mayor Factura to report the 2022 first semester survey results and gave feedback on the conducted monitoring activity with National Nutrition Council (NNC) X.
Further, to ensure timely analysis of LNEWS data at the municipal level, MNAO Nanolan proposed for the reorganization and reactivation of the LNEWS Core Group.
MNAO Nanolan expressed her gratitude to NNC X for continually assisting the LGU, especially on the implementation of LNEWS-FNS. She said that LNEWS data were a big help to them to detect food and nutrition security concerns and formulate interventions to improve address existing problems of malnutrition. (Development Management Officer II Arlie Joy O. Damiles / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / 09631090198)
